Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 40

Jeonghan's phone sat heavily in his hand, its cold screen glowing softly under the dim light of his penthouse. His fingers hovered above the screen, trembling slightly. The decision to reach out to someone from his past weighed heavily on him, each second spent contemplating the consequences felt like an eternity.

There was only one person who might still have the answers, someone from his past who knew more about the syndicate and the dangerous game they were playing. Someone who could help him understand why this was happening, but reaching out to her would mean stepping right back into that world.

He cursed softly under his breath, gripping the phone tighter. The clock was ticking, and he knew he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

As he scrolled through his contacts, his mind flickered to his son. Hanuel. The thought of him instantly softened the edges of Jeonghan's resolve. Hanuel was his light, his reason for walking away from the darkness. The little boy, with his innocent eyes and pure heart, was everything to Jeonghan. The idea of pulling him into the web of his past terrified him.

No matter how much he wanted to protect Hanuel, Jeonghan knew that the storm brewing on the horizon might not give him a choice. Someone was out there, and they wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted. He had to find out who, and fast.

Taking a deep breath, Jeonghan pressed the name in his contact list, the screen flashing as the call began to ring. He waited, the silence stretching longer than it should have. Each ring echoed louder in his ears until, finally, the call was answered.

“Yah, 1004.” the voice on the other end growled, feminine and familiar. “What do you want?”

Jeonghan exhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. "I need information. Something's wrong. Someone's messing with my past."

There was a long pause on the other end, the air thick with hesitation. Then the voice responded, its tone flat but with an edge of concern. “This is more than just a grudge. You know better than anyone not to poke around in that world. You should’ve stayed away.”

Jeonghan’s grip on the phone tightened. “I tried. I really did.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “But someone’s pulling me back in. Someone knows about 1004. They know who I am.”

The voice on the other end fell quiet again, and for a moment, Jeonghan was unsure whether the call had been dropped. But then the voice returned, softer, almost resigned. “You’re not the only one they’re after, 1004. If they’re coming for you, they’re coming for everyone who’s ever been a part of that world.”

The weight of those words hit Jeonghan like a punch to the gut. He had been trying to shield his son from all of this. He had promised himself that Hanuel would never know the darkness that had once consumed him.

“I know what I’m getting into.” Jeonghan replied quietly, his voice tinged with a deep sorrow. “But I can’t do this alone.”

There was another pause, then a heavy sigh from the other end. “Fine.” the voice said finally. “I’ll help you. But you need to be careful. These people don’t play by the rules. They know things. And they won’t stop until they have you... or your son.”

Jeonghan’s breath caught in his throat, his heart sinking. The mention of Hanuel’s name sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through his veins. The thought of anything happening to his son, of anyone touching him, was a nightmare Jeonghan couldn’t bear to entertain.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him.” Jeonghan said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with a determination that surprised even him. “Just tell me what I need to know.”